😐A single person spends $523 per month in Ratnapura vs $472 in Maharagama, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $854 per month in Ratnapura vs $789 in Maharagama, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,106 in Maharagama, rent included.
😐Ratnapura costs about 11% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ratnapura and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura61% lower, Maharagama65% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.22LKR 709
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.12LKR 3,228
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90LKR 2,199
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.32LKR 739
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80LKR 255
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51LKR 164
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.12LKR 677
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04LKR 970
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96LKR 624
$1.95LKR 622
0.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81LKR 257
$0.51LKR 163
58.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67LKR 213
$0.76LKR 243
-11.84%
Eggs
$1.18LKR 376
$2.11LKR 672
-44.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.59LKR 5,290
$16.26LKR 5,186
2.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.00LKR 2,231
$5.78LKR 1,842
21.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.62LKR 5,619
$10.74LKR 3,425
64.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.60LKR 1,467
$11.49LKR 3,665
-59.97%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78LKR 248
$1.23LKR 392
-36.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.56LKR 1,455
$10.00LKR 3,188
-54.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06LKR 338
$1.85LKR 591
-42.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 353
$1.16LKR 368
-4.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57LKR 502
$1.16LKR 371
35.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52LKR 166
$1.63LKR 519
-68.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48LKR 152
$0.61LKR 193
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.35LKR 4,578
$9.78LKR 3,118
46.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.91LKR 4,118
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25LKR 718
$1.99LKR 635
13.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16LKR 1,008
$3.24LKR 1,033
-2.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38LKR 121
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.30LKR 1,051
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 133
$0.32LKR 101
31.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48LKR 155
$0.31LKR 99.5
54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.32LKR 101
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04LKR 330
$1.37LKR 438
-24.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KLKR 6.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KLKR 7.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$53.7LKR 17.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.25LKR 719
$3.44LKR 1,097
-34.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.87LKR 2,511
$12.68LKR 4,044
-37.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.92LKR 3,165
$13.44LKR 4,288
-26.19%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70LKR 862
$5.09LKR 1,622
-46.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$68.0LKR 21.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$510LKR 162.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.55LKR 3,682
$24.77LKR 7,899
-53.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.61LKR 2,747
$13.55LKR 4,322
-36.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7LKR 29.9K
$54.8LKR 17.5K
71.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.14LKR 8,973
$58.3LKR 18.6K
-51.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$85.2LKR 27.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$60.4LKR 19.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$165LKR 52.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.6LKR 29.5K
$116LKR 36.9K
-20.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ratnapura
Maharagama
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174LKR 55.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
17
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Ratnapura: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Maharagama: April 26, 2026
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Ratnapura vs Maharagama: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Maharagama cheaper than Ratnapura?
Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $784 per month in Ratnapura and $709 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ratnapura vs Maharagama?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $523 in Ratnapura and $472 in Maharagama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Ratnapura and Maharagama?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ratnapura – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 enough for either Ratnapura or Maharagama?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $523 in Ratnapura and $472 in Maharagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Ratnapura or Maharagama more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ratnapura or Maharagama?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ratnapura vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado